The meaning of THE is —used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is definite or has been previously specified by context or by circumstance.

The and that are common developments from the same Old English system. Old English had a definite article se (in the masculine gender), sēo (feminine), and þæt (neuter). In Middle English, these had all merged into þe, the ancestor of the Modern English word the.

THE definition: 1. used before nouns to refer to particular things or people that have already been talked about or…. Learn more.

Mar 21, 2025 · The downy woodpecker can be found in the same environments as the hairy woodpecker.; Used with the plural of a surname to indicate the entire family. The Bushes have held political office for several decades and the Kennedys longer.

Hello LearnEnglish Team, I could not understand the difference between "Whales are in danger of becoming extinct" and "The whale is in danger of becoming extinct".. Also, I would like to do the difference between these three sentences:

A/an and the - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary

Sep 14, 2023 · Knowing when to use "the" in English can be confusing, especially for English learners. We use "the" to talk about specific nouns, groups in general, geographic terms and so much more. Read this post to learn when to use "the" in English, when NOT to use "the", why "the" is so important and how to practice using it!